191 file nominations for Naga polls

Guwahati: Defying the dictate of the core committee to boycott the elections, more than 191 candidates filed nominations for February 27 elections in Nagaland on the last on Wednesday.

Chief electoral officer for Nagaland Abhijit Sinha told this newspaper from Kohima that nominations were filed for all the 60 Assembly seats. “We are yet to get the complete details of the nominations from few district, but so far we have received reports of 191 candidates filing the nomination,” he said.

The ruling Nagaland Peoples Front has announced the largest number of candidates — 58. The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has named 38, while its alliance partner the BJP is going to contest 20 seats. The NDPP, led by former chief minister Neiphiu Rio, will have its candidates in 40 constituencies.

The Congress was the last to come out with its list. The party has decided to contest 23 seats, most of its candidates being first-timers. The Janata Dal-United (11 candidates) and Nationalist Congress Party (6) had announced their lists. Among those in the fray is former bureaucrat Khekiye K. Sema, whose anti-graft organisation, Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation, had opposed the polls. Mr. Sema will be contesting the Ghaspani-II seat.

Besides Mr Neiphiu, two other ministers, Vikheho Swu and P. Longon, chief minister T.R. Zeliang’s advisers Chotisuh Sazo and T.M. Lotha were among those who filed their papers on Tuesday. Mr Lotha will contest on a BJP ticket, while the other three are NPF candidates. Nagaland chief minister Zeliang also filed his nomination on Wednesday.

The scrutiny of the nomination papers will be held on Thursday and the last date for withdrawal is February 12

Meanwhile, the Congress party is reported to have approached the Naga People’s Front (NPF) for an informal understanding in some seats. Though, sources in NPF on Wednesday ruled out the chances of any understanding with the Congress party.